Alex Ovechkin will miss All-Star Game after positive COVID-19 result
Alexander Ovechkin's return to the all-star stage will have to wait.
The Washington Capitals announced Tuesday that their captain will have to skip the Las Vegas weekend after testing positive for COVID-19. Ovechkin will also miss Washington's final game before the all-star pause Tuesday versus the Edmonton Oilers.
It's expected that Ovechkin's teammate, Tom Wilson, will fill the void. Wilson is on pace for career-best totals with 13 goals and 31 points in 42 games.
Sources: Tom Wilson will be going to Vegas for All Star to replace Alex Ovechkin.
Ovechkin tested positive for COVID this morning. Wilson is on pace for a career-high year offensively.— Emily Kaplan (@emilymkaplan) February 2, 2022
Ovechkin was officially announced as an all-star for the 12th time in his career after winning the all-star captain fan vote for the Metropolitan Division. He has not, however, participated at the event since 2018 when it was held in Tampa Bay, accepting the one-game suspension tied to missing the event to tend to an injury or rest in lieu of attending on multiple occasions.
COVID-19 cases have significantly declined since a surge forced the NHL to pause the schedule and enter a prolonged holiday break. It's been reported that upwards of 75 percent of players have contracted the virus, which, somewhat ironically, has created a safer space for players and staff members to now work in.
Ovechkin was placed under league protocol and forced to miss games in order to quarantine at the beginning of last season. He had not been forced to miss time this season like so many other players league-wide, appearing in all 46 of Washington's games to this point and registering 29 goals and 58 points.
Interestingly, Tuesday marked the final day for mandated daily testing for players and staff members across the league. Tests will only be required for vaccinated players and staff when deemed symptomatic when the league returns from the all-star break.
Authoring the sort of campaign that belongs in the Hart Trophy discussion, Ovechkin is four goals behind the Rangers' Chris Kreider in the Rocket Richard race and six points off the Art Ross Trophy pace being set by Florida's Jonathan Huberdeau.
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